Convertible multiple purpose chair



' E. J. MALLETT 2,065,233

CONVERTIBLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE CHAIR Dec.'22, 1936.

Filed Dec. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9' g, L Q

v Inventor W zansz Jmazze 2 2 Dec. 22, 1936. E. J. MALLETT CONVERTIBLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE CHAIR Filed Dec, 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m Eves? J Malieiz and y A Home:

Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to that class of convertible furniture for use in or out of the house and has more specific reference toa miniature novelty which may conveniently and comprehensibly be defined as a multiple purpose convertible chair.

Although the invention was especially perfected for use as a play toy to accommodate dolls and the like, it is of such character as to lend itself admirably well to embodiment in full sized invalid chairs or similar versatile adaptations.

Briefly described, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a comparatively low-slung seat associated with a supporting leg structure including a rear pair of rollers or wheels, said seat structure having at its rear a tiltably mounted relatively long back-rest, and said backrest being provided at its outer free tiltable end with a special fixture susceptible of serving several purposes.

One feature is predicated upon the adoption of an arrangement of the aforesaid character wherein the adjustable back may be employed in conjunction with the seat structure to function as a miniature novelty dolls chair.

An advantage is derived, however, from the provision of the rear set of wheels and an associated axle assembly wherein the seat and back rest, as a unit, may be tilted and rolled along on the surface to perform in the capacity of a dolls carriage or push-cart.

A further and refined phase of the invention has to do with special adaptations incorporated in the structure to permit it to be pulled along by a cord or the like somewhat in the manner of a toy wagon.

Then too, novelty is predicated on the special assemblage of convertible features permitting the back-rest to be adjusted into a plane even with the seat to permit the structure to serve as a bed.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like mechanical parts and details throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the associated parts adjusted to perform or function as a chair.

Figure 2 is a similar side or edge view showing how the back-rest is brought down to cooperate with the seat structure in providing a temporary bed.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, which view serves to show how the chair is tilted and pushed along a surface to function as a baby carriage.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating how the seat is tilted up and the backrest tilted down close to the ground so that by attaching a cord, the structure can be pulled in a direction reverse to that shown in Figure 3 to function as a toy wagon.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view which may be seen by observing Figure 1 in a direction from left to right.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front or face View.

Figure 7 is a cross-section on the plane of the line 'l'! of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an exaggerated fragmentary detail section disclosing the pivotal joint or connection between the base or seat structure and one of the rails of the back-rest.

Considering first the base or seat structure as a unit it will be observed that this embodies a suitable bottom or seat member 9. In the drawings it is shown as including side rails I0 provided with spaced slats. These side rails are secured between the front and rear sets or pairs of legs II and I2 respectively. The legs are joined by side braces l3. The upper ends of the front legs extend above the seat and these legs are relatively short to adapt it when the structure is used as a chair, or a bed, to rest on the floor or other supporting surface as is evident. The legs I I are at right angles to the seat While the legs [2 at the rear are inclined at obtuse angles. It will be noticed, especially from Figures 5 and 6, that these rear legs terminate short of the surface and that a horizontal axle extends through the lower end portions thereof to accommodate the rubber tired rollers or wheels I l. The combined height of the features [2 and I4 is equal to that of the legs H as is evident. Hence, it is possible to use the structure as a chair as shown in Figure 1. The numeral I5 designates a front crossbrace on which the rails l0 rest. The numeral l6 designates a similar transverse rear brace. This is secured to the intermediate portions of the legs l2 and is usable primarily as a stabilizing member or element. It is provided with clearance notches I! as shown better in Figure 5. The extensions l8 on the rear ends of the side rails I0 extend above, that is register with the notches. This provides an ideal arrangement to accommodate the lower bifurcated ends of the vertical or longitudinal rails IQ of the back-rest 20. The back-rest is almost twice as long as the seat member 9. It also includes spaced parallel rails and adjoining spaced slats. The rails are provided in their rear edges as shown in Figure 1 with keeper notches 2! to accommodate the bight portions of the laterally directed parts 22 of the swingable wire bail 23. One or more latches 24 may be provided on the rails to keep the bail in the seats or notches 2|. The free lower ends of the arms of the bail are pivotally connected. to the upper ends of the posts or front legs H as indicated at the point 25. The bends 26 of the side arms are merely to accommodate a cord or the like which can be tied across to hold the doll (not shown) in place in the chair. In connection with the wire bail it is to be observed that it is proportioned so that when it is released from the keeper notches and allowed to drop down, as shown in Figure 2, it does not'interfere with the wheels or rollers. That is to say, it drops down in a natural out-of-the-way position. Moreover, the bail is gravity lowered in the sense that by simply releasing the latch and pulling the back- -.est 20 slightly forward, the left-hand end portion of the bail (see Figures'l and 2) drops down under its own weight. It is just as easily liftable to permit it to be engaged with the back-rest to hold the back-rest up in chair-forming relationship. The series of notches or keeper seats 2| cooperating with the bail allows the back-rest to take different angular positions with respect to the seat structure.

bed-forming position shown in Figure 2 the break-joint between the back-rest and seat is Virtually nested firmly into the notches l'l. Hence, the weight is in reality supported on the cross-rail brace I 6.

I would call attention now to a multiple purpose U-shaped fixture or bracket 28 (see Figures 4, 5 and 7 in particular), this being of a predetermined size and constructed of simple hollow metal tubing- The free ends of the arm portions are slitand-then spread apart and fashioned to provide attaching fingers 29 and 30, these being suitably fastened to the frame structure of the backrest. This bracket 28 serves in several ways. When the device is used as a baby carriage as shown in Figure 3 it constitutes a convenient handle for pushing and pulling the carriage. When the back-rest is swung down to the almost level position as shown in Figure 4 the bracket couldserve as a drag shoe or a temporary prop. It will be remembered that the structure in Figure 4 is in a sense a toy wagon. In this position the doll is reversed so that instead of sitting on the chair or seat it is placed against the back-rest which then becomes a seat. In both instances, however, the bail constitutes a safety retention device for the occupant. The same part 28 also serves as a leg orprop when the structure is used as a temporary bedas illustrated in Figure 2.

The eye 3| (see Figure 4) serves to accommodate a cord or the like 32 allowing the wagon to be pulled along in an obvious manner. Hence it will be seen that I have perfected an ingenious structure which is, in fact, an unusual innovation. Although it is primarily usable as a toy and susceptible of performing in several different ways, it may constitute the basis for the construction of a full-sized convertible invalid chair or the like.

It is though that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after consideringthe description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and the arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim: H

1. In a convertible toy doll chair of the class described, a miniature structure comprising a pair of duplicate relatively short front legs, a brace connecting said legs together, a horizontal chair bottom including a pair of spaced parallel rails secured at corresponding ends to the upper end portions of said front legs and bearing on said brace, said rails having their opposite ends formed with tenon-like extensions, a pair of complemental rear legs secured at their upper ends to said rails inwardly of said extensions, said rear legs inclining at substantial obtuse angles to the longitudinal dimensions of said rails and terminating short of the supporting surface, wheels attached to the extreme lower ends of said rear legs and cooperating with the front legs and forming a uniform support for the seat structure, a second cross-brace attached to the rear edges of said rear legs and disposed on a plane slightly below said extensions, and a back rest unit including side rails having their inner ends bifurcated, the furcations straddling and being pivotally connected to said extensions directly over said last-named cross-brace, said furcations being engageable with said cross-brace under predetermined conditions to promote uniform stress and strain stabilizing means between the back rest and said rails.

2. In a convertible chair of the class described,-

a seat unit including a bottom having front and rear companion legs, a horizontal brace connected to and joining the rear legs, transporting and supporting wheels operatively mounted on the lower end portions of the rear legs beneath said brace, a back rest unit hingedly attached to the seat unit and including side rails provided with a plurality of selectively usable keeper notches, and a substantially U-shaped wire bail, the free ends of the arms thereof being hingedly connected with the front legs, the bight portion thereof being bent laterally and selectively engageable with said notches when in use, said bight portion being dropped down to rest on said brace when not in use whereby to hold it up clear of the supporting surface and wheels.

ERNEST J. MALLETT. 

